Background: I'm 30 yrs old, heavy build, doubles tennis 3x a week, basketball once a week. Starting to get constant knee pain more on the medial sides of the left and right knees. There's also pain on the lateral side but not so much.

I get more pain on the left knee, probably because my left leg is slightly longer than the right.

The pain is a lingering type, kinda acts up when bending the knees.

Any recommendations on what to get? The pain used to act up only after basketball but now feeling it after tennis. Only injury was a partial MCL tear on my right knee some 5 years ago.

Background: I'm 30 yrs old, heavy build, doubles tennis 3x a week, basketball once a week. Starting to get constant knee pain more on the medial sides of the left and right knees. There's also pain on the lateral side but not so much.

I get more pain on the left knee, probably because my left leg is slightly longer than the right.

The pain is a lingering type, kinda acts up when bending the knees.

Any recommendations on what to get? The pain used to act up only after basketball but now feeling it after tennis. Only injury was a partial MCL tear on my right knee some 5 years ago.

If it's just a sleeve you're looking for

Rehband original blue, Tommy Kono sleeves, and the newer gray Rehbands are probably the best on the market.

But it sounds like you might need something closer to a brace? The sleeves would be worth a try though

Even the most trivial differences in leg length can cause severe knee and hip problems. One hopes you have footwear that accurately makes up for the difference. And even with such footwear, the anatomical anomaly may make your level of exercise with a heavy build problematic.

Rehband original blue, Tommy Kono sleeves, and the newer gray Rehbands are probably the best on the market.

But it sounds like you might need something closer to a brace? The sleeves would be worth a try though

Really liking the look of the TK sleeves. It's also nice that its sold in pairs. I remember during my MCL recovery I really favored one knee over the other.

Regarding my leg length problems, unfortunately I have no choice but to just suck it up. The length difference is too much for an insole and my podiatrist told me to get special shoes with heel lifts. lol now that's a good look.

Fortunately the only real sport I can't last long is running. Tennis and basketball rely on a variety of movements so my foot ligaments don't get punished as much than with running straight.

I happen to ask my Dr about knee wraps, the the type that don't have substantial structural elements.

He is a well-know orthopedic teaching specialist. He said that the issue of knee wraps often comes up at weekly meetings at the medical school (or hospital?).

He said that they are all agreed that there is one benefit - it helps the knee in warming up and keeping warm.

On other benefits, there was not much settled.

A more serious knee brace such as a prescription custom-fit Don Joy brace can limit how far the knee can extend or maybe limit other motion. It has a heavy metal hinge that limits knee extension. After my knee operation, I wore one for a few years to stop - as I understood it - the leg below the knee from going forward or the knee from hyperextending because my Dr was unsure of how tight my ACL was. It was comfortable and not restricting to movement. My knee is OK now.

A friend with arthritis has two heavier duty wrap types with Velcro tighteners and maybe some stiffeners of some kind. He likes them a lot.

Really liking the look of the TK sleeves. It's also nice that its sold in pairs. I remember during my MCL recovery I really favored one knee over the other.

Regarding my leg length problems, unfortunately I have no choice but to just suck it up. The length difference is too much for an insole and my podiatrist told me to get special shoes with heel lifts. lol now that's a good look.

Fortunately the only real sport I can't last long is running. Tennis and basketball rely on a variety of movements so my foot ligaments don't get punished as much than with running straight.

Also, i forgot about these, primarily because they do not fit the raw category i am familiar with

Super heavy duty sleeves, might have some rubber support in them (which can actually add poundage to squats, whereas the others do not). These would probably be much closer to what you would need if it's really bad.

I happen to ask my Dr about knee wraps, the the type that don't have substantial structural elements.

He is a well-know orthopedic teaching specialist. He said that the issue of knee wraps often comes up at weekly meetings at the medical school (or hospital?).

He said that they are all agreed that there is one benefit - it helps the knee in warming up and keeping warm.

On other benefits, there was not much settled.

A more serious knee brace such as a prescription custom-fit Don Joy brace can limit how far the knee can extend or maybe limit other motion. It has a heavy metal hinge that limits knee extension. After my knee operation, I wore one for a few years to stop - as I understood it - the leg below the knee from going forward or the knee from hyperextending because my Dr was unsure of how tight my ACL was. It was comfortable and not restricting to movement. My knee is OK now.

A friend with arthritis has two heavier duty wrap types with Velcro tighteners and maybe some stiffeners of some kind. He likes them a lot.

There are two other proven benefits of such a device:

1- Reminding you during play that you have a bum knee and to subconsciously take it easy